Golf-practice apparatus



June 3, 1930. R. HAZELTINE 1,761,039

GOLF PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 6, 1929 IN VEN ATTORNEYS;

i atented June 3. 1 3

I -HE@M HAZELTDIE, QHI GUPEE IitLLS, MASSAUEUSETTS eonnraacricn nrrazarrrns Applicatien filed February 6,1929. Serial No. 837,964.

This invention relates to practice apparatus for the game of golf, and has particular reference to a devicecapable of use inthe home, or in clubs .or-- hotels, for practicing putting. Oboe object ofthe invention is to provide a simple convenient, and inexpensive apparatus by which various forms of putting greens can be' simnlated. A further object is to provide such an apparatus in' whichthe r forms of putting greens which can be simuiated are large'in number andxare readily reproducible at will. A further object is to provide a putting apparatus in which the cnurse of the ball on different slopes can be died by causing the ball to leave a readily sed recbrd of its path. Other and furfther'objects will appear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying' my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a. similar section showing a modifled hinge structure;-and

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing thedevice in two different positions of adjustment. The device is composed generally ofa plurality of rigid'sections, joined together on a plurality of lines by hinges and covered with some material, preferably a pile fabric such as velour, which will produce the same effect on a ball as a putting green in good co'ndi-.

tion. The base or framework of the section may be constructed in any desired form, but v preferably consists of awooden body 10 formed .of longitudinal and lateral members in any desired manner so as to give the necessary rigidity. The device is preferably formed in two main sections 11 and 12, separated from each other along a hinge line 13. The hinges 14 along this line not only act in the production of putting surfaces of difl'erent slopes,'

as will be described, but serve to permit the two halves of'the device to be folded upon each other for storage or transportation.

Besides the hinge line 13, the sections are preferably separated along additional hinge lines 15 and 16, the former of which may intersect' the hinge line 13. The hinges along line 13 are'only required to flex in one direc- Q tion, but those along lines 15 and 16 are pref- 1 erably arranged to be flexible in either div the passage of a golf ball thercover, and the bottom of the base is'cut away as at 18 to permit flexing of the hinge downwardly as well as upwardly.

The efiect of. the construction is to divide the entire surface'of the board either into two sections 11 and 12 separated by the hinge line 13., or to separate the sections 11 and 12 by a third section 19 extending diagonally and capable of being disposed either in the same plane as one of the other sections or lying at an angle to both of them. The desired angular relation of the several section's is determined by supporting them on legs 20 arranged at convenient places around the periphery of the board. Each leg is preferably pivoted to the board as at 21 at a point somewhat off its center, so that two adjustments can be secured by swinging them with either the short or the long side down.- A guard rail 22 around the sections 12 serves to prevent a ball rolling off, and a hole 23 in the section 12, preferably provided with a fabric-pocket bottom 24, takes the place 'of the usual cup of a putting green. Handles 25 are located around the board at convenient {points for aid in adjusting the board or in transporting it.

Any suitable covering may be placed on the top of the board to simulate the effect of the closely cropped grass of a putting green. I prefer, however, to use asa covering a pile fabric 26 such as velour or velvet, as this has properties which make it of particular utility instudying the behavior of a golf ball on difierenttypes of surface. By brushing the nap either crosswise of the board or in a direction away from the hole 23, the path of a golf ball will clearly-appearafter the ball has traveled over the brushed surface. Several shots may be played and the paths of the balls compared Without re-brushing the nap, but when desired a quick rebrushing will cont pletely obliterate all previous ball marks.

It will be found that with the structure as described a very large number of com binations of slope may be obtained, ranging from a simple slope from one end of the board to another to a complexslope such as is indicated in Fig. 5 or in Fig. 6. The first of these represents a simple terraced green with the putting line extending diagonally across the terrace slope. In this case, the hinge line 13 is not used, the board being bent upwardly at the line 15 and downward ly at the line 16. The section 12 is shown as 7 approximately level. In the setting of the apparatus.shown in Fig. 6 the approach secion 11 is left substantially level, the intermediate approach section 19 is bent upwardly along the hinge line 13, and the ball receiving section 12 is bent slightly downwarch ly along the hinge line 16. The section 11 has no slope 'either longitudinally (in a direction along the length of the apparatus or towards the hole 23) or laterally at right angles to .the length of the apparatus). The section 19 has a longitudinal slope but no lateral slope. The section 12 has both longitudinal and lateral slope since it is bent down from the section 19 along an oblique line.

Due to this oblique hinging the section 12 as arranged in Fig; 6 slopes so that its righthand far corner (as viewed by an observer standing at the end of section 11) is the low est point on the section. Of course, other slopes can be given almost without limit, each of the three sections being adjustable as to slope both longitudinally and laterally. Many modifications may be made in the form of apparatus disclosed without departing from the substance of the invention. Thus a greater or less number of hinge lines may be employed, or the hinge lines 13 and 15 may be arranged so as not to intersect. The arrangement described, however, posscsses such advantages of combining compactness with flexibility of adjustment that I prefer sits use. The fabric covering 26 may be attached to the base only at its edge s or may be secured to the/base adhesively all g over .its surface. In the latter case, the cover is preferably left unsecured through a zone on either side of each of the hinge lines to avoid a too abrupt change of slope. Instead of the hinge structure shown in Fig. 8, that of Fig. t may be substituted. .In this case, a slab of flexible material 27, such as rubber or canvas belting, is countersunk into the wood surface on either side of the hinge line, and secured adhesively or otherwise in place. This mode of forming the hinge has the advantage of making a very gradual change of slope at the hinge line, thus avoidtain of the hinge lines being arranged at an angle to other hinge lines, a ball receiving aperture in one section, and means for holding the several sections in various adjusted positions.

I 2. A golf pulting apparatus comprising a plurality of substantially rigid sections hinged together, certain of the hinge lines being arranged at an angle to other hinge lines and having one pair of hinge lines intersecting, a ball receiving aperture in one section and means for holding the several" sections in various. adjusted positions.

3. A golf putting apparatus comprising a plurality of substantially rigid sections hinged together, a' ball receiving aperture in one sect-ion,--and movable legs attached to at least some of thesections for varying the angular relation of the sections.

4:. A golf putting apparatus comprising a plurality. of substantially rigid sections hinged together upon a plurality of hinge lines, and means for holding theseveral sections in various adjusted positions, said holding means'being arranged to cause selectively a folding of the sections on certain hinge lines to the exclusion of other hinge lines.

A golf puttin apparatus comprising a substantially rigidIiase, a hinge dividing the base transversely into two sections, a second hinge arranged obliquely and crossing the first hinge, a third hinge arranged substantially parallel to the second hinge and spaced from the first two hinges, and a ball receiving apertui'e between the third hinge and the end of the base.

6. A golf putting apparatus comprising a substantially rigid base, a hinge dividing the base transversely into two sections, a second hinge arranged obliquely and crossing the first hinge, a third hinge arranged substan- 1 first hinge, a third hinge arranged substan tially parallel'to the second hinge and spaced from the first two hinges, a ball receiving aperture between the third hinge and the end of the base, a plurality of adjustable legs whereby .the base may be flexed selectively along the several hinge lines, and a continuouscovering of pile fabric over the base.

8. A golf putting apparatus comprising a covering,

base, means for imparting to the base difl'erent angles of slope, a coverin over the base of pile fabric having a nap suificient softncss to record the travel of a ball thereover, and a ball receiving aperture in the base and v 9. A'golf putting' apparatusicomprising a ball receiving aperture, and; a putting surface leading to the aperture and constructed of pile fabric having a nap of sufiicient softness to record the travel of a ball thereover.

10. A golf putting apparatus comprising a ball receiving aperture, a putting surface leadin to the aperture and constructed of pile fa ric having a nap of sufiicient softness to record the travel of a ball thereover, and

means for imparting to the base diiferent an- I gles of slope.

11. A golf putting apparatus comprising a utting surface of pile fabric havin 'a nap of sufiicient softness to g a ball thereover.

12. A golf putting apparatus comprising a green-simulating portion having a'ball receiving aperture therein, a further greensimulating portion connected to the first named portion and serving as an approach thereto, and means for varying both the latoral and the longitudinal slopes ofthe approaclr portion.

13. A golf putting apparatus comprising v a green-simulating portion having a ball receiving aperture therein, a further eensimulating portion connected to the first named portion and serving asan approach thereto, means for varying both the lateral and the longitudinal slopes of the firstnamed portion, and additional means for varying both the lateral and the longitudinal slofifs of the approach portion.

testimony whereof I' have aifixed my signature.

record the travel of l REGINALD HAZELTINE. 

